Stove feed plate



Oct. 31, 1950 w. P. BIDDLE ET AL STOVE FEED PLATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1944 Oct. 31, 1950 w. P. BIDDLE El AL STOVE FEED PLATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July '7, 1944 Oct. 31, 1950 w. P. BmDLl ET AL STOVE FEED PLATE Filed July 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 31, 1950 STOVE FEED PLATE William P. Biddle and Cornelius 0. Bond, Knoxville, Tenn., assignors to Sandebond' Patents, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Dela-' ware Application July 7, 1944, Serial No. 543,795

This invention relates to improvements in stove feed plates, particularly the cover plate for the fire-box of a coal or wood stove.

13 Claims. (Cl. 126--211) Heretofore, it hasbeen the practice to pro- I vide a one-piece lift feed plate over the fire-box,

either with or Without separate lids therein- These have been objectionable, however, because it has been necessary to raise the entire feed plate to an elevated position in order to feed fuel into the fire-box. This leaves substantially the entire area of the top of the fire-box open, which immediately sucks in such a large volume of cold air as to destroy the effect of the draft, causing a large amount of smoke from the fuel bed to.

be discharged into the room through this open top of the fire-box.

The principal object of this invention is to improve the construction of the cover plate for the fire-box of a coal or wood stove so as to permit the refueling operation to be performed without the discharge of smoke from the fuel bed into the room as aresult of the refueling operation.

A further object of the invention isto provide in the feed plate a sectional construction'such that either part or substantiallythe entire top either or both of the sections. The lifter member may be' movedfrom front to back to raise only the front section, tilting the latter beyond its upright position when the section will be retained elevated by engagement of 'lugs thereon with the loops or sockets that form coacting parts of the hinge means. The lifter'is so constructed as to be retained in the socket in different positions, even when elevated. When the front'section is lowered to a closed position, the"lifter handle may be moved from left to right, swinging the sections simultaneously to raised posiportion of the fire-box may be opened. This makes it possible to open only a section of the feed plate when it is desired to feed' fuel into the fire bed, or the entire plate can be raised to an open position out of the way so as to expose the entire fire-box for easy access when building a fresh fire therein. 1

These objects are accomplished preferably by constructing the feed plate in two sections, hinged to each other, whileone of the sections is hinged to the top portion of the stove. This makes it possible to swing back one of the sections relative to the other to expose a portion of the fire-box when access thereto is desired, or to swing back both sectionsjointly and simultaneously for exposing the entire top of the firebox when building a fresh fire therein. The hinge connections are preferably detachable-for ready separation of the sections from each other, as well as from the stove, and yet are so constructed that the open section or sections of the feed plate are held in open position by gravit and out of the way of the operator in gaining access to the desired or entire portion of the fire box. Still another object of, the invention is to provide a detachable handle means foropening and closing the two-section cover plate. This means comprises a socket formed in a corner of the front section and a handle having-afinger insertable in said socketwhenit is desired to raise tion, which motion continues as thesesections move past dead-center when they Will be retained in their elevated positions by the engagement of the top lugs with edges of the sockets, whereby to hold the feed plate securely in raised position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stove with the improved feed plate therein, in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similarview showing the front sec- I tion of the feed plate raised;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing of the feed plate raised,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the feed portion of the stove embodying this invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the top por-- tion thereof on the line 55 of Fi 4;

Fig. 6 is a similarview at right angles thereto, on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; V I Fig. 7 is a detail cross-section through a hinge of the feed plate, on the line T'! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a similar view with the feed plate in elevated position;

Fig. '9 is a detail perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of the stove top,s howing the hinge socket loop; V

Fig. v10 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the back lift plate, showing the hinge] lug thereof; and 7 Y w :Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lifter."

The invention is shown as applied to 'a stove for burning coal or wood, of conventional construction, for which it'is adapted. The stove is constructed with a fire-box l in one end thereof and an oven 2 in the opposite end thereof. The stove topis designated. generally at 3, which forms the cooking top of the stove. This'cooking top is usually provided with removable lids, such as the standard open plates or French plates, enclosed within a surrounding top frame 4. While these lids, for the most part,'may be constructed of: different characters, the stove shown has'one b oth sections French plate 5 (Fig. 4), one standard open plate 6 with removable lids I, and a lift feed plate over the fire-box I.

The lift feed plate is constructed of two sections, a back section 8 and a front section 9, these being substantially of equal area, as shown in Fig. 4, and adapted to cover substantially the entire area of the top of the fire-box I.

While the sections 8 and 9 are adapted to be supported at their outer edges on a flange on the top frame 4, the inner side edge of the back section 8 is preferably hinged to the adjacent top section of the stove, in this instance, the standard open plate 6, to form a hinged support for the two sections of the feed plate. For this purpose, the top plate 6 has a lateral flange along the edge thereof, shown at I0, which forms a ledge adapted to underlie the adjacent edge portions of the sections 8 and 9 throughout a substantial portion of the length thereof from. front to back of the stove.

As shown in Figs. 4, '7 and 8, the top plate 6 is provided with a plurality of open loop sockets II integral therewith, spaced along the edge of the back section 8. These sockets II are off-set downwardly from the plane of the top plate 6, as shown in Figs. 7 to 9, substantially in longitudinal alignment with the ledge I9. The adjacentedge of the back section 8 is provided with off-set lugs I2 formed thereon, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 10, in position to enter the sockets II and thereby form an interconnected hinge between the section 8 and the top plate 6. The lugs I2 have notches l3 in the end portions thereof in positions to receive the ends of the loops II when the section 8 is elevated as shown in Fig. 8, and to provide a hook portion on the end of each lug to hold the sections elevated, and preventing them from accidentally becoming disconnected from the top plate 6. Nevertheless, the sections 8 and 9 may be disconnected when desired, merely by lifting the lugs I2 out of the loop sockets II, as will be evident from Figs. 7 and 8.

Each of the loop sockets I I has an upstanding supporting lug I4 thereon, at one side thereof, in position to engage under the plate section B, and hold the latter flush with the stove top. A corresponding supporting lug I 5 is provided on the ledge I9, adjacent the front of the stove, as shown in Fig. 4, for supporting the section 9. The lateral edges of the sections 8 and 9 are provided with ribs I6 thereon at the under side thereof, which ribs rest upon the ledge i9. Each rib I 6 is substantially semi-circular in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 5, and the inner sur-'- face of each supporting lug I4, I5, is formed concave at IT, complementary thereto, so as to form a hinged connection between the sections 8 and 9, respectively, and the top plate 6, permitting these sections to rotate transversely relative to the top plate, the weight of the two sections causing the ribs I6 to be retained in these bearings during the raising and lowering movements the sections.

The sections 8 and 9 are hinged together by means of loop sockets I8 and lugs I9. The relation of these parts is such that the top edges of the lugs I9 are always in close proximity to the adjacent under surface of the back section 8, remaining in close proximity to the adjacent surfaces of the sockets I8 during the raising and lowering movements of the front section, thereby keeping the two sections in proper relationship to each other. They are detachably connected for separation, if desired, substan-- tially as described above with respect to the hinge connections II-I2.

The section 9 is provided with a lifter socket 29 therein, adjacent the front corner of the stove. This socket 20 is adapted to receive a flattened finger 2| formed in an off-set relation from a lifter handle 22. The finger 2| is shown as formed integral with a shaker socket 23 to permit one implement to serve both purposes. The shape of the finger 2I cooperating with the shape of the socket 20, causes the lifter member to be retained on the section 9 when moved to different elevated positions, as shown respectively in Figs. 2 and 3, and yet is detachable therefrom, when desired. Thus, it is possible to hang the lifter member in a convenient place away from the heat of the stove so as to keep it cool until its use is desired, when it may be used without fear of burning the hand.

It will be evident from Figs. 2 and 3 that either the section 9 may be opened individually, or the sections 8 and 9 jointly opened simultaneously, as may be desired. In either event, the lifter finger 2| will be inserted into the socket 29 in a direction transversely of the section 9. Then, upon swinging the lifter-22 from front to back of the stove, the section 9 may be raised to the elevated position shown in Fig. 2. The lugs l9 will engage the forward ends of the loop sockets I8 to limit this swinging'movement, while retaining the parts in interconnected relation. This is the position desired for feeding fuel into the fire-box I, inasmuch as it does not expose the entire top of the fire-box to cold air which would cause smoke to be discharged into the room. Tests have shown that when only this much of the cover plate is opened for the refueling operation, no smoke is discharged into the room through this aperture.

Whenever a fresh fire is to be built in the firebox, it is necessary to expose the entire area of the top of the fire-box. This may be done in the manner shown in Fig. 3, by swinging the lifter handle 22, with the section 9 closed, from left to right in Fig. 3, which will cause the sections 8 and 9 to be moved together. This movement will continue until they have been moved past the vertical position when the stop lugs I2 will engage the ends of the loop sockets I I, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby holding the back plate 8, and thereby the front plate 9, in elevated positions by the interengagement of these lugs and sockets, out of the way of the person building a fire in the fire-box. These sections may be closed merely by reversing the movement of the lifter handle 22. As shown, the handle will remain attached to the section 9 in either elevated position by reason of the interconnection 202I.

Thus, it is possible, in a very simple construction, to provide for gaining access to the fire-box for feedin fuel thereto without danger of smoking, because only part of the fire-box need be exposed for this purpose. Nevertheless, the feed plates is so constructed that the entire top may be opened, whenever desired, for the purpose of building a new fire.

We claim:

1. In a stove having a stove top with an opening therein, a stove lid for closing said opening comprising a plurality of sections hinged together at adjacent edges thereof, and means at another edge of one of said sections at an angle to said first mentioned hingeedges for hingedly mounting said sections on the stove top.

direction,

another of said sections with the frame for joint a-xagaaae -2. In a stovehaving a stove'top withqan opening therein, a stove lid for closing said opening comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular sections arranged in side-by-side relation, means for hingedly connecting adjacent' edges of said sections together for swinging movement of one of said sections relative to another-of said sections, and means arranged at anoth'er edge" of one of the sections at an angle to the firstmentioned hinge edges for hingedly supporting said sections on the stove topl r 3. In a stove having a stove top with an opening therein, a stove lid for closing said opening comprising two substantially rectangular sections arranged withedges thereof adjacent to each other,-means hingedly connecting said adjacent edges to each other for swinging movement of one of the sections to an open position relative to the other section, and means for hingedly supporting a lateral edge of said other section approximately at right angles tothe first-mentioned-hinge edge thereof for hingedly mounting the sections on the stove top.

open position in a direction laterally relative to,

the first-mentioned hinge means of one section with the other.

5. A stove having a frame with a lid-receiving opening therein, a stove lid comprising a plurality of sections arranged in edge-to-edge relation, means hingedly connecting the sections with each other for opening movement of onesection relative to another, and means hingedly connecting another of said sections with the frame at an angle to the first-mentioned hinge means for joint swinging movement of the sections .to an open position with respect to the opening and frame.

6. In a stove having a frame with a lid-receiving opening therein, a plurality of sections mounted in the opening, means hingedly connecting one of the sections with another thereof for opening movement relative thereto in one and means hingedly connecting opening, movement of said plurality of sections in a different direction relative thereto,

7, In a stove having a frame with a lid-receiving opening therein, a lid mounted in said opening and including two rectangular sections arranged in edge-to-edge relation, means hingedly mounting one of the sections on the other for swinging movement in one direction to an open position relative thereto, and means hingedly mounting the other section on the frame structure for swinging movement of said sections in another direction substantially at a right angle to the first-mentioned direction of swinging movement.

8. In a stove having a fire-box therein and a cooking top thereover with a surrounding frame, said cooking top having an elongated opening therein over the fire-box, a feed plate mounted on the frame in said opening and comprising two sections disposed in side-by-side relation,

means hingedly mountin one of the sections on thelother thereof for swinging, movementin a, direction lengthwise of the opening to an open position for feeding fuel into the fire-box, and means hingedly mounting the. other section'at a lateral edge of the opening for joint swinging movement of the, sections in a direction laterally of the opening to expose the opening for building a fire in the fire-box, eachbf said hinge means being constructed for detachment and separation of the sections from each other and from the cooking top.

9. In a stove having a fire-box therein and a cooking top thereover with a surrounding frame, said cooking top having an elongated opening therein over the fire-box, a feed plate mounted on the frame in said opening and comprising two substantially rectangular sections disposed in lengthwise relation relative to the opening, means hingedly mounting one of the sections on the other thereof for swinging movement in a direction lengthwise of the opening to an open position for feeding fuel into the fire-box, and means hingedly mounting the other section at a lateral edge of the opening for joint swinging 'movement of the sections in a direction laterally of the opening to expose the opening for building a fire in the fire-box, each of said hinge means being constructed for detachment and separation of the sections from each other and from the cooking top.

10. In a stove having a stove top, a stove lid comprising two substantially rectangular sections arranged with edges thereof adjacent to each other, means hingedly connecting said adjacent edges to each other for swinging movement of one of the sections to an open position relative to the other section, and means for hingedly supporting a lateral edge of said other section approximately at right angles to the first-mentioned hinge edge thereof for hingedly mounting the sections on a stove top, each of said hinge means being constructed for detachment and separation of the sections from each other and from the stove.

11. In a stove having a stove top, a stove lid comprising two substantially rectangular sections arranged in edge-to-edge relation, means for hingedly supporting one of the sections upon the other section and connecting said adjacent edges together, and hinge means at a lateral edge of said other section at right angles to the first-men- I tioned hinge edges for mounting the sections on a stove top for joint swingin movement to an open position in a direction lateraly relative to the first-mentioned hinge means of one section on the other, each of said hinge means being constructed for detachment and separation of the sections from each other and from the stove.

12. In a stove having a fire-box wth an opening thereover, a removable closure for said open- 7 ing comprising a plurality of sections arranged over the opening in side-by-side relation, hinge means Supporting one of the sections on anmeans supportin one of the sections on another for swinging movement relative thereto to an open position, and means hingedly connecting anotherof said sections with the stove for swinging movement of the sections to an open position relative thereto, said last-mentioned means being arranged at an angle to the first-mentioned hinge means, said last-mentioned hinge means being constructed for detachment and separation of the sections from the stove.

WILLIAM P. BIDDLE. CORNELIUS C. BOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Clinton et a1 Feb. 19, 1850 Coulston Aug. 10, 1869 Melville, et a1 June 30, 1874 Lawson July 23, 1878 Carleton Nov. 29, 1881 Collins Aug. 9, 1887 Price July 24, 1894 Edwards June 27, 1911 Steere Dec. 21, 1920 Kahn Feb. 20, 1934 Hammond Jan. 8, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1899 Germany July 18, 1930 

